Pennridge Won't Dock Truant Grades

A Pennridge School District policy that required students to bring in written excuses within three days of their absence or face academic penalties has been changed after several parents complained.

At its last meeting, the Pennridge School Board unanimously approved the changes which will go into effect in September.

"This was put into effect in 1985 to get kids to bring in their excuses," Superintendent John Slattery said. "That worked pretty well but we had some casualties along the way."

Under the old policy, which was protested by several parents at board meetings earlier this year, if a student failed to bring in an excuse, the absence was declared unexcused and any tests, papers or work due that day received a zero.

After getting complaints from parents, who said the policy put the students' final grades in jeopardy, the board asked the administration to look into making changes.

A committee headed by high school Principal Fred Schwenk and made up of the two junior high school principals, two assistant high school principals and six parents developed a revised plan.

Starting in September, the first time a student fails to bring in a note, the incident is marked as an unlawful absence but no penalties are assessed. The second and third times, the student receives a one- hour and two-hour detention, respectively. On the fourth incident, the pupil receives either a two-hour detention or fine ($2 plus $26.58 in district court costs) and for the fifth incident, the student would have a one-day in-school suspension.

In other business, board member James Hackett, chairman of the Athletic Committee, reported that the district had received 31 applications for the boy's varsity basketball coach position.

"It is our hope and plan to have a candidate for consideration at the July meeting," said Hackett.

The person would replace Dean Dedopoulos who coached the team for two seasons. Earlier this year, the school board declared the position open and began taking applications.